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An early Dutch study of déjà vu experiences

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Herman N. Sno  and
Douwe Draaisma
Herman N. Sno*
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam; University Department of Psychonomics, Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands
Douwe Draaisma
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam; University Department of Psychonomics, Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Herman N. Sno, Academic Medical Centre, Psychiatric Out-patient Clinic, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Synopsis

In 1904 and 1906, Heymans reported the results of two prospective questionnaire surveys on déjà vu experiences and depersonalization in a sample of mainly students. Déjà vu experiences appeared to be more frequent than episodes of depersonalization. Emotional sensitivity, unstable mood fluctuations, apathetic episodes and irregular working rhythm emerged as predisposing personality traits. With the exception of the working rhythm, these traits were more prominent among the respondents with episodes of depersonalization than among those with déjà vu experiences. Heymans inferred that these findings supported his hypothesis that déjà vu experiences and depersonalization both resulted from the diminishing or disappearance of a sense of familiarity due to a momentary reduction of psychological energy. A re-analysis of Heymans' data partly confirmed his findings and conclusions as to the predisposing factors. The authors conclude that his studies and his hypothesis have been hitherto undervalued and would deserve more attention.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 23 , Issue 1 , February 1993 , pp. 17 - 26
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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